SMALL BUSINESS OWNER, 4th GENERATION GRANITE STATER, AND COMMUNITY LEADER CHRIS PAPPAS TO RUN FOR CONGRESS

Manchester, NH—Manchester small business owner, 4th generation Granite Stater, and community leader Chris Pappas announced his campaign for Congress on Thursday, pledging to shake things up in Washington and never let politics get in the way of delivering real results for people in New Hampshire.

"I am grounded in the people and places of New Hampshire, and I am running for Congress to make a meaningful difference for our future," said Pappas, a lifelong Granite Stater. “Washington Republicans are not addressing the needs of middle class families. I want to be part of a new generation of leadership to turn things around."

"When people step into my family's restaurant, they expect attentive service and a good product at a reasonable price. Delivering every day for every person we serve has kept us in business for over 100 years. If I am entrusted to represent the people of New Hampshire in Congress, I will focus on serving their needs every single day," Pappas said. "America’s best days are ahead of us, and I will work to expand economic opportunity for our families and build a brighter future for New Hampshire's children. Here in New Hampshire, we work together to craft solutions to the challenges we face, and that's what I will do in Washington.”

"Instead of solving our problems, the President and the majority in Washington are creating new ones. We should lower health care costs and stabilize insurance markets, but they are sabotaging our health care system. Instead of reforming the tax system to expand economic opportunity and help middle class families, they are proposing tax breaks for big corporations and the super wealthy. We should tackle climate change, but they are putting the fossil fuel industry in charge. And we should expect bipartisan cooperation on important challenges like the opioid crisis, but they are pushing plans that would cut access to treatment," Pappas said. "We must chart a new course for the future."

In the coming months, Pappas will be traveling across the district to listen and learn from the people of New Hampshire. He is taking the same grassroots approach to this campaign that helped him win three elections to the Executive Council in a Republican-leaning district.

New Hampshire has always been home for Chris Pappas. He is a proud product of Manchester public schools, graduated from Harvard, and vowed to help make a difference in the community that gave him so many opportunities. He co-owns and manages the Puritan Backroom Restaurant, founded by his great-grandfather in 1917. The business employs 230 people.

On the Executive Council, he has fought for more resources for law enforcement and organizations on the front lines of the opioid crisis; stood up for women’s health—twice working to restore funding that had been shut off at Planned Parenthood health centers; championed investment in our state’s infrastructure, including commuter rail service; and cast the pivotal vote to launch New Hampshire's Medicaid expansion program, which insures more than 50,000 people.

Chris is running for Congress so he can bring his work ethic and understanding of local concerns to Washington. He knows our economy—and democracy—are tilted toward special interests and those at the top, and he will be a steadfast champion of the people, communities, and Main Street businesses that make New Hampshire the best state to call home.

For more information about Pappas's campaign, or to join the team, visit www.chrispappas.org.